Reply All: The 8.3.14 Issue

For decades, we have struggled to increase access to the autism treatment described in Ruth Padawer’s article, and many insurance carriers have avoided covering autism treatment by characterizing applied behavior analysis (A.B.A.) as “investigational.” Despite the work of advocates to secure autism-treatment mandates in 37 states, thousands of children continue to have no access to such treatment, which offers the most potential for overcoming the developmental delays and challenging behaviors often associated with autism. As the prevalence rate continues to increase, a national strategy to ensure unfettered access to autism treatment is needed. DOREEN GRANPEESHEH,executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Tarzana, Calif.

As an autistic adult who has achieved a high degree of success, I see little evidence of autism “going away.” Autism is not a disease; it is a way of being. Given enough time, many autistic people can learn to present themselves in public in ways that allow us to function normally in society. But how different is this from the usual process of growing up, in which children learn how to function in the community as adults? We don’t talk about immaturity as a “disease” or public education as its “cure.” I am well educated, well paid and married with a child. But don’t for a minute tell me that I’m “no longer autistic.” I suppose that every form of being has its challenges. But I like who I am, and don’t want to be nonautistic. Hopefully, we can someday move beyond conversation about “curing” autism and instead talk about effective ways to raise autistic children to become happy, productive autistic adults. ROBERT FISCHER, Hamden, Conn., posted on nytimes.com

I used to work with a lot of students on the autism spectrum and used what was called the cognitive-sensory method. We would read stories together and reward the children for good behavior, similar to what was described in this article. We had one student who would not say a word in these sessions and would throw objects at his teacher. Over the next few months, though, he started to talk more and smile at his teacher. I don’t mean to say that these A.B.A. or cognitive-sensory methods work on everybody. Most of our students saw little to no progress. However, breakthroughs like these warrant further research. JEAN KIM,Los Angeles, posted on nytimes.com

Is the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League exploitation or an opportunity for these kids? The truth is, it’s probably a bit of both. The exploitative part is pretty apparent, but the free shoes and other gear they get don’t come cheap at retail prices. Beyond that, they get a chance to travel and see the wider world. They get to play in front of some of the top college coaches in the country, and the league keeps them out of trouble. While I can’t attempt to run a cost-benefit analysis for these kids, there is undoubtedly some good in it for the players. MATT, Washington, posted on nytimes.com

As unsavory as the shoe company’s representatives are, they are willing to invest tens of thousands of dollars into kids who may or may not succeed. How many school districts or community centers are willing or able to do the same? Can you blame the kids and their parents for responding to such an investment? I don’t see this level of hand-wringing over suburban parents who spend big money on travel baseball or soccer, all for a small scholarship and a seat on the bench at a third-rate school. OZINBROOK, New York, posted on nytimes.com

Spoon, the band of young rockers profiled by Dan Kois, have merely rediscovered a technique pioneered by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and other jazz musicians in the 1940s and 1950s, in which they translated well-known pop standards into a new musical language called bebop. Thus, “Indiana” became “Donna Lee”; “Sweet Georgia Brown” morphed into “Dig”; “Whispering,” “Groovin’ High”; “I Got Rhythm,” “Anthropology”; and so on. The approach to music innovated by these jazz masters continues to form new kinds of music to this day. Maybe the efforts of Spoon or others will enjoy similar success. JOHN F. HOGAN, Chicago

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A version of this article appears in print on August 17, 2014, on Page MM6 of the Sunday Magazine with the headline: Reply All: The 8.3.14 Issue. Today's Paper|Subscribe